GOD’S UNLIKELY HEROINE – RAHAB

Many first-time Bible readers are surprised to learn that the New Testament begins with a genealogy (Matthew 1:1-16), Jesus’ family tree. Those same readers are even more surprised when Rahab shows up on the list.

Most of us know about her. She is almost always mentioned by in the Bible as “Rahab the harlot.” But that’s not all. Rahab was also a Canaanite, who were the hated enemies of Israel. Her most exemplary deed was telling a lie, think about that. A Harlot, a Canaanite and a liar. You wouldn’t think she would have much chance of making the list, but she did.

Her name was Rahab. You might think from her profession that she was destined to die an early death, to fade away into shame, the disgraced woman. This woman, Rahab, was like that relative in the family tree that we prefer to not talk about or to keep in the shadows. You might think any or all of these things because Rahab was a prostitute.

The Bible Story of Rahab

From the book of Joshua, when the Hebrews were camped at Shittim, in the Jordan valley across from Jericho, Joshua sent out two spies to examine the fighting force of Jericho. The spies hid in Rahab’s house, which was constructed into the city wall. The men sent to seize the spies asked Rahab to bring them out. Rather, she covered them under bunches of flax on the roof, protecting them from being captured. Rahab recognized the God of Israel. She trusted in him for the righteousness she could not produce in her own life. Rahab said to the spies:

Joshua 2:9-13 “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” After escaping, the spies agreed to spare Rahab and her family after conquering the city, even if there were to be a slaughter if she would designate her house by placing a red cord out the window. When the city of Jericho fell, Rahab and her whole family were saved from the agreement of the spies and were included among the Jewish people.

Rahab became a central strategic figure of incomparable courage as she helped Israel to enter the promised land and subdue her own people. When the Army of Israel entered Canaan, Rahab acted according to a prearranged plan and hung out a scarlet cord from the window of her establishment. As a result, she and her family were saved. How interesting that a scarlet cord, likely, an emblem of ill-repute, became a sign of salvation. How very beautiful to think that it is a scarlet cord of the covenant of God’s grace that binds all of the Word of God together. And in Christ Jesus, the blood-stained crimson cross of shame became the gleaming symbol of salvation and hope of our faith.

Rahab’s faith in God introduced her into a new family. Even more, Rahab was, soon, instilled into the physical family of Israel as she became the wife of Salmon, one of the leaders of Israel who supported Moses when they left Egypt. Rahab’s husband is chronicled in both the Old and New Testaments (1 Chronicles 2:10-11, Ruth 4:20-21, Matthew 1:4-5 and Luke 3:32).

Whatever Rahab was before Israel crossed into the land of the Canaanites she became someone new in the promised land. For Rahab believed, she not only believed in God but she also acted. For Rahab trusted in God who fulfilled the covenantal promise to Abraham that he would be given land from which would bring a nation, and a descendant, who would bless the earth. And we must always remember that this woman, Rahab, was chosen by Almighty God to be a chosen instrument in bringing about salvation to the ends of the earth. James 2:25:“And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way”

What We Can Learn From Rahab

The woman who had been called a harlot became a godly wife. She and her husband became the parents of a boy named Boaz. And that boy would one day marry a widow woman by the name of Ruth (Ruth 4:5, 10). Thus, as God worked all things together for the good, using the humble and the most unlikely, God raised up a harlot to become the great-great-grandmother of King David. From the line of Rahab came the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, our God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no more touching story of God’s glorious grace than the genealogical introduction to the birth of Jesus by faith through the line of Joseph in Matthew chapter 1. Among the many stories that are interwoven in that wonderful section of the Bible, the woman of the scarlet cord takes her honored place.

And so if you ask me, “How could God possibly use me? How could Almighty God, the holy God of heaven, use such a sinner like me?” Then I will introduce you to the woman of the scarlet cord, the greater grandmother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is not remembered for her sin. She is remembered for the remarkable transformation. The word “harlot” is undoubtedly repeated so that you and I will know that whatever we have done God will forgive us if we come to him by faith. Rahab is the ever-present message of God to you: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”.

Rahab’s life is a great story with many lessons, but we mustn’t miss the point that Rahab was a harlot, that was her “trade.” The men hid at her home because people were accustomed to seeing strangers come and go at all hours of the night. We also can’t deny the fact that Rahab told a lie. Is there anything good we can say about her? Yes! She was a woman of faith because the Bible says so, Hebrews 11:31 says,“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” Hebrews 11:31.

The same grace that Rahab experienced is now available to you. I invite you in Jesus’ name to come and be forgiven. He’s already made the first move. The next step is up to you.

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